MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 293 



" But he's (puff) worth far more," retorted Jogglebury, angrily ; 

 " why (wheeze) Lumpleg offered me as much for Disraeli." 



" Well, I'd have taken it, too," rejoined Mrs. Jogglebury. 



" But I should have (wheeze) spoilt my (puff) set," replied the 

 gibbey-stick man. " S'pose any (wheeze) body was to (puff) offer 

 me five guineas a (puff) piece for the (puff) pick of my (puff) 

 collection — my (puff) Wellingtons, my (wheeze) Napoleons, my 

 (puff) Byrons, my (wheeze) Walter Scotts, my (puff) Lord Johns, 

 d'ye think I'd take it ? " 



'" I should hope so," replied Mrs. Jogglebury. 



" I should (puff) do no such thing," snorted her husband into 

 his frill. " I should hope," continued he, speaking slowly and 

 solemnly, " that a (puff) wise ministry will purchase the whole (puff) 

 collection for a (wheeze) grateful nation, when the (wheeze) " 

 something " is no more (wheeze)." The concluding words being 

 lost in the emotion of the speaker (as the reporters say). 



" Well, but will you go and call on Mr. Sponge, dear? " asked 

 Mrs. Jogglebury Crowdey, anxious as well to turn the subject as 

 to make good her original point. 



"Well, my dear, I've no objection," replied Joggle, wiping a 

 tear from the corner of his eye with his coat-cuff. 



" That's a good soul ! " exclaimed Mrs. Jogglebury, soothingly. 

 " Go to-morrow, like a nice, sensible man." 



" Very well," replied her now complacent spouse. 



" And ask him to come here," continued she. 



" I can't (puff) ask him to (puff) come, my dear (wheeze), until 

 he (puff — wheeze) returns my (puff) call." 



" fiddle," replied his wife, " you always say fox-hunters never 

 stand upon ceremony ; why should you stand upon any with 

 him?" 



Mr. Jogglebury was posed, and sat silent. 



